Reading the Bible every day keeps the heresy away
I read the Bible every night. It’s a habit for me. I used to think I might get bored of reading the same words over and over again, but now I realize that sometimes you actually forget what’s in there! As Christians, we need constant reminders.
Recently, Justin and I were reading through 1 Timothy and we got to chapter 3, in which Paul gives instructions for church leaders (referred to as “overseers”) in most translations. He writes,
Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
— 1 Timothy 3:2–5
I fixated momentarily on the instructions regarding wives and families. The Roman Catholic church requires celibacy of all clergy. However, it was starkly clear to me that Paul’s instructions directly contradicted the doctrine of one of the most influential and powerful Christian sects. Paul indicates that leading a family is a quality that translates well to leading a whole church, so he obviously promotes married clergy. Yet the Catholic church prohibits it. The rule was implemented in the medieval times, likely to consolidate and control all income obtained by the clergy. This kind of doctrine, devised for human convenience rather than for the glory of God, reminds me of what Jesus said to the Pharisees: “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (Mark 7:8).
But Protestants don’t get away scot-free, either. Many evangelical churches have turned away from the truth and preach attractive heresies such as the prosperity gospel. Others preach acceptance and tolerance of various sins in a thinly-veiled attempt to seek approval from secular culture. They dilute the gospel, robbing it of its power to save souls.
By the grace of God, there’s a cure for all this confusion. This one simple hack could literally save your life. Crack open that Bible every day and fill your mind with God’s word! Literally, that’s it. If Catholics read their Bible every day, they’d eventually stumble upon 1 Timothy 3 and realize that the Catholic church is wrong about a few things. If Mormons read their Bible every day, they’d uncover hundreds of verses contradicting the false teachings of Joseph Smith. If Jehovah’s Witnesses read an accurately translated Bible instead of the Watchtower version, they’d recognize that their Bible has been changed and edited to fit a dangerous agenda.
Maybe if all Christians read their Bibles every day, parents wouldn’t kick out their kids for being gay — because 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Maybe we would shun hypocritical televangelists who own private jets and multiple mansions. After all, Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Why does anybody even listen to these prosperity gospel creeps? If we just spent a little time daily in God’s word, we’d probably be generous rather than selfish. We’d reflect on our own sins and become even more grateful for our salvation.
In conclusion, knowledge of the word of God is vital protection against heresy and false teaching. 1 Peter 3:15 commands us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” We should be prepared to defend the truth against all kinds of lies and misinformation, and we need to know Biblical doctrine to prevent us from falling away.
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
— Joshua 1:8
